Other Elephant in the (Class)room: White Liberalism and the Persistence of Racism in Education

Edited by Cheryl E. Matias, and Paul C. Gorski

Published by: Teachers College Press

Imprint: Teachers College Press

Sales Date: 2023-09-22

Paperback

CA$42.46 CA$49.95

Published: September 2023

Product Details

Imprint: Teachers College Press

Page Count: 216 Pages

Dimensions: 6.20 x 9.00

216 Pages, 6.20 x 9.00 x 0.35 in

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CA$42.46 CA$49.95

ISBN: 9780807768822

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Description
Contents

Purposeful, intentional racial bias poses an obvious threat to the possibility of real equity in schools. In this volume, antiracist educators explore an equally troubling, but insufficiently explored threat: the racism upheld by schools and districts that claim an antiracist commitment. These institutions perpetuate disparities by enacting that commitment through surface-level and soft diversity and inclusion goals and popular initiatives that are more equity optics than antiracism. This book asks: How is racism perpetuated through actions, programs, practices, and initiatives that might appear to be inclusion-oriented or ?progressive,? but never quite get around to eliminating racism? How do these efforts pose as racial equity while protecting systems of advantage and disadvantage?creating a sort of equity inertia? The book then asks: What would antiracism look like if we enacted a deeper antiracist approach? What is a truer vision for racial equity? Diverse authors apply these questions to an equally diverse assortment of programs and practices, such as trauma-informed care, social?emotional learning, restorative practices, anti-bias work in early childhood education, Montessori schooling, ?inclusive? social studies curricula, and toxic positivity and ?niceness? as stand-ins for racial equity.

Book Features:

Illustrates how K?12 educators can adopt more authentically justice-oriented approaches to antiracism.
Draws on existing theoretical frameworks such as critical race theory, critical whiteness studies, culturally sustaining pedagogies, and equity literacy.
Examines concepts such as white fragility, racial battle fatigue, white privilege, and interest convergence.
Includes a range of authors, from racial justice scholars to classroom teachers.
Offers an engaging and accessible format that combines narrative with theoretical grounding, bridging critical analysis to visions for moving forward.

Contents

Introduction Cheryl E. Matias and Paul C. Gorski ?1

Part I: White Liberalism and the Illusion of Transformative Intent

1. ??Peel It Like an Onion?: A Proactive Challenge to White Liberalism Inside a Progressive Teachers Union ?21
Theresa Montaño and Betty Forrester
Introduction ?21
White Liberalism: Inside the Onion ?22
?It Can?t Just Be About Racial Justice? ?23
White Liberalism, Racial Microaggressions, and Racial Battle Fatigue ?24
Putting Race at the Center ?24
Racial Justice Is Social Justice Work ?25
You Don?t See Me: Womxn of Color Are Union Leaders! ?27
Sustaining Our Spirits With Action From White Liberalism to Racial Justice ?29

2. ?The End of Altruism: Moving From White Hero Discourse to Racial Justice Praxis ?32
J.P.B. Gerald
Introduction ?32
Altruism and Conceptualizations of White Heroism ?33
Altruism as Obstacle to Racial Justice ?34
From Altruism to Racial Justice Praxis ?35
Conclusion ?39

3. ?Exposing the Other Elephant: White Liberal Discourses and the (Re)Production of Racism in K?12 Education ?41
Lindsay Lyons and Cherie Bridges Patrick
Introduction ?41
From Deficit Narratives to Systemic Change ?42
How We Interpret White Liberalism ?43
White Liberalism in Action ?44
Disproportionate Discipline and School Leadership ?45
Disproportionate Discipline Beyond Schools ?46
Moving Toward Racial Justice ?48

4. ?How Toxic Positivity Prevents Equity for ESOL Students: Getting Uncomfortable for the Sake of Equity ?51
Elisabeth Chan, Lavette Coney, and Heidi Faust
Introduction ?51
Language, Race, and ESOL ?52
Understanding Toxic Positivity and ELs ?52
Scenarios ?54
Conclusion ?56

Part II: White Liberalism in Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness, and Belonging Efforts

5. ?Colorblindness, White Paternalism, and the Limits of School Desegregation and Diversity Reform ?61
Anna Kushner
Colorblindness ?63
White Paternalism ?65
Conclusion ?68

6. ?Deploying White Liberal Antiracism to Avoid Accountability: Racial Appropriation in Educational Leadership ?71
Tracey A. Benson
The Initial Training: Planting the Seeds of Discomfort ?73
Collective Derailment: The Characters of White ?Liberal? Fragility ?75
Taking Responsibility: My Three Fundamental Oversights ?79
A Bitter End: Weaponizing White Fragility and Enacting White Rage ?81
A Way Forward: Changing the Paradigm ?84
Truth and Reconciliation ?87

7. ??We Aren?t Going There Today!?: Unpacking and Challenging White Liberalism, Racial Silence, and What Kids Are ?Ready? for in the Early Childhood Classroom ?89
Andréa C. Minkoff and Katherine Wood
White Liberalism, White Fragility, and Racial Silence ?91
White Liberal Racial Silencing in the Early Childhood Classroom ?92
Challenging White Liberalism, Racial Silence, and What Kids Are ?Ready? for in the Early Childhood Classroom ?94

Part III: White Liberalism in Curriculum and Instruction

8. ?White Teachers? Black Historical Consciousness: Can We Teach Black History? ?101
Brianne Pitts, Daniel Tulino, and Greg Simmons
Can ?Good? White Liberals Teach Black History? ?101
Purpose and Definitions ?102
Examples in Practice ?104
From BHM to BHC ?105
Enacting the BHC Framework ?106
Conclusion ?109

9. ?Overpromising and Underdelivering: White Liberal Narratives in Arts Education ?111
Alina Campana and Amelia M. Kraehe
A Vignette ?113
The ?Arts Teach Social Emotional Skills? Narrative ?114
?The Arts Bridge Differences? Narrative ?115
Recommendations ?117

10. ?White Liberalism in the U.S. History Curriculum: Issues of Diversity and Accountability ?121
Chris Seeger and Maria Gabriela Paz
Introduction ?121
The Diversity Problem ?122
Individual Versus Group Representation ?123
The Privilege of Individuality ?125
Avoiding Accountability ?126
Teaching U.S. History Through a Racial Justice Lens ?127

Part IV: White Liberalism in Popular Programs and Initiatives

11. ?Liberalism to Liberation: Reimagining Montessori Education ?133
Daisy Han and Katie Kitchens
Introduction ?133
Dr. Maria Montessori: The Hero, Legend, and Racist ?134
Demystifying the Deity ?135
The White Liberal Montessori Practice ?136
What Is Liberation? ?140
Conclusion ?144

12. ?White Liberalism, Racism, and Restorative Justice in Schools ?146
Crystena Parker-Shandal
How RJE Reproduces Racism Through White Liberal Ideologies ?147
Principles to Guide Antiracist RJE ?150
Moving Forward With Authentic Efforts for Racial Justice Through Restorative Justice ?153

13. ?Seeing Systems: The Case for Systemically Trauma-Informed Practice Instead of White Saviorism ?156
Debi Khasnabis, Simona Goldin, and Addison Duane
Introduction ?156
Understanding Systems and Trauma-Informed Practice ?157
White Liberalism and Trauma-Informed Practice ?158
From Savior to SysTIP ?163
Conclusion ?166

14. ?Interrupting the White Liberalism of Social Emotional Learning ?169
Jennifer C. Dauphinais and Jenna Kamrass Morvay
Introduction ?169
Letters ?171
Recommendations ?177
Conclusion ?179

15. ?White Liberalism, Positive Behavior Supports, and Black, Indigenous Students of Color: ?We?re Teaching Them to Do School? ?180
Jeanne Connelly
Whiteness and White Liberalism in Schools ?181
Case Study: Culturally Responsive Practices and Positive Behavior Supports ?182
Tensions Between PBIS and Culturally Responsive Practices (CRPS) ?183
Transformative Practices: BISOC ?186
Transformative Opportunities in Disability Critical Race Theory ?187
Conclusion ?189

Notes ?191

Index ?192

About the Editors and Contributors ?199